ECR2: Florida Panthers (A3) vs Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) - PANTHERS WIN 4-3

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

My god, the meltdowns on the radio today have been unreal. These "professionals" are all taking turns rattling off emotional spiels.

Most of it is super cringey and gross. Even above the oilers, the leafs are the only team talked about this way, where when they're eliminated it goes beyond a normal autopsy on a season and into weird territory.

The way Leafs people respond to losing is exactly why I never want to see them win anything.

Oh, now they're reveling in disdain from other fanbases. "Oh its natural for them to hate the richest team in professional sports"

Yeah....... that's why people don't like them.

[Locke]

Yeah, the Leafs got it game 7, so there is that...but they also genuinely got their asses kicked.

Its not like they lost on a weird technicality or something or not getting powerplays, etc. They got properly smoked.

Its not like Florida 'squeaked' by them or anything, the Cats turned it on and the Leafs had no response to their opposition finding another gear.

Thats sports.

[FlamesAddiction]

The Leafs top players just can't grind it out like the Panthers top players can.

If Bennett and Marchand make it to free agency, and they let Marner and maybe Tavares go(or at least re-sign him at a discount), I can see the Leafs making big offers for them. It would completely change the dynamic of that team.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

I wish we had a Cats (or 2019-2022 Tampa) equivalent in the west that could not only beat but put the boots to the Coilers in emphatic fashion to drive home their No Goodness the same way Toronto gets torched.

Dallas may be able to get the job done, but given their style of play its unlikely to be in dominant fashion, but in a close marathon. Oilers pundits will be able to scrape plenty of excuses and moral victories from it.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Locke

Yeah, the Leafs got it game 7, so there is that...but they also genuinely got their asses kicked.

Its not like they lost on a weird technicality or something or not getting powerplays, etc. They got properly smoked.

Its not like Florida 'squeaked' by them or anything, the Cats turned it on and the Leafs had no response to their opposition finding another gear.

Thats sports.

The Cats won four of the last five. They didn't play their game in the first two for whatever reason but when they did, it felt lopsided.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The Leafs top players just can't grind it out like the Panthers top players can.

If Bennett and Marchand make it to free agency, and they let Marner and maybe Tavares go(or at least re-sign him at a discount), I can see the Leafs making big offers for them. It would completely change the dynamic of that team.

This isn’t being brought up enough. The Panthers identified they had to change how they played and slowly overhauled their roster and brought in a coach to play a certain style. It was brought up by Tkachuk last year and Maurice yesterday.

The players know to win and have success they need to play that possession heavy pressure style. It’s difficult to play but they have the roster to do it and it happens to be their top players. Just watched the opening of the game Toronto was overwhelmed with the pressure the Panthers put on them. It’s a hard style to sustain and runs its course but it’s how Sutter coached LA as well.

Toronto can never play that way. Guys like Marner and Nylander are soft and need open ice to make a difference.

[WideReceiver]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

All of you complaining about grammar are loosers.

*grammer

[Locke]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

*grammer

I was complaining about Kelsey Grammer....

I'll never forgive him for 'Money Plane.'

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Andy Grammer is great!

[WideReceiver]

Originally Posted by Locke

I was complaining about Kelsey Grammer....

I'll never forgive him for 'Money Plane.'

I’ll never forgive his MAGAt ass now.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The Leafs top players just can't grind it out like the Panthers top players can.

If Bennett and Marchand make it to free agency, and they let Marner and maybe Tavares go(or at least re-sign him at a discount), I can see the Leafs making big offers for them. It would completely change the dynamic of that team.

I don't think it changes their fortunes at all. Losing skill, in Marner, will suck for them. There isn't a silver bullet that will solve their problems but to me they need a skilled power forward who will go through people. I don't think Bennett will help that much. He's not skilled enough, but fits in well in Florida's mix of players. Marchand from a few years ago was pretty much what they needed, and perhaps he still has it but he's definitely on the down side of his career skill wise. He'd be a good fit there but you start to chase former skill if you go that direction. I think Tavares was really good for the most part and admitted he wants to be with the team, so you're looking to get his number off the books and into a discount. To me it'll look something like this:

Resign:
Tavares

Trade:
Reilly

Let Walk:
Marner

Sign:
Ekblad
Marchand

Deal for:
Erik Karlsson
Nick Paul or Gabe Vilardi

[Paulie Walnuts]

Can’t see Tampa trading Paul to a division rival.

They miss a player like Kadri who loves the spotlight.

How much of a hit can they take offensively to fix up their mix. Probably not a lot.

The backend is pretty bad as well.

Oh yeah suck it Savard as well.

[blankall]

Yikes...that was a rough game.

When the Flames lose important games, it typically follows a script. They hold the sticks too tight, let in two bad goals against, then come back, but they are down 4-2ish in the 3rd. They try really hard for the last 10 minutes but then come up short.

This was something else. Toronto was never in this game and didn't seem to try for any stretch of time. They have legit talented players too. I can kind of see why Maple Leafs fans are the way they are.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Can’t see Tampa trading Paul to a division rival.

They miss a player like Kadri who loves the spotlight.

How much of a hit can they take offensively to fix up their mix. Probably not a lot.

The backend is pretty bad as well.

Oh yeah suck it Savard as well.

Not disagreeing with you, except the last part. I think Treliving made sufficient changes to make it among the better third defence in the league. I think it needs a tweak to bring in a legit goal scorer back there to run the PP better (which is why I think Toronto and Pittsburgh are such good partners for a deal for Karlsson for prospects).

[Paulie Walnuts]

The Flames played 1 game 7 with their previous core. This is Torontos 7th and they are 0-7 with 7 goals.

Mitch Marner has 0 points in those games.

[midniteowl]

I'm just absolutely loving it at the Leafs right now, all the problem they are having and having Treliving there to try to fix those problem.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Not disagreeing with you, except the last part. I think Treliving made sufficient changes to make it among the better third defence in the league. I think it needs a tweak to bring in a legit goal scorer back there to run the PP better (which is why I think Toronto and Pittsburgh are such good partners for a deal for Karlsson for prospects).

That would be a pretty bad trade for Toronto TBH. Is Karlsson any good anymore.

They need offence from the backend but can they afford it with a guy who can’t defend ?

Is it worth throwing away the future for a guy like that.

I do wonder if it’s time for them to start planning a Matthews trade and look at a rebuild.

[Badgers Nose]

One time I was at a Leafs game, the guy sitting next to me had season tickets. I said, 'wow you must be a big fan!' He said, 'Nope. I just come to every game to boo them.'

The row in front of me booed Kessel every shift, chanting 'last pick!'

Crazy fan base. Fandom isn't rocket science yet they can't seem to figure it out. There are only extreme highs and lows there, nothing else.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

I'm just absolutely loving it at the Leafs right now, all the problem they are having and having Treliving there to try to fix those problem.

Dude! He's in on everything! Works the phones like no one else.

THEY WERE THIS CLOSE TO GETTING RANTANEN!!!

Haha! Stupid GMBT. Stupid Leafs. Stupid Leafs fans.

[Paulie Walnuts]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ1x2ZQu...FtZmk3N3diMA==

This guy goes to Leafs games to cheer against them. That’s a special hater.